Seoul: A wooden boat carrying four North Korean residents drifted into South Korean waters last week, crossing the Northern Limit Line, the de facto maritime border between the two Koreas in the East Sea, the military reported on Thursday. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) detected the small vessel approximately 100 kilometers east of Goseong in Gangwon Province on the morning of May 27.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the four individuals aboard the boat have been transferred to a relevant institution for questioning, as part of a joint operation with the Coast Guard. Initial reports suggest that the North Koreans likely crossed the maritime border accidentally and have expressed their intent to return to North Korea.

This incident follows a similar case from March 7, when a wooden boat carrying two North Koreans was discovered in the Yellow Sea. Despite their expressed wish to return, efforts by Seoul to repatriate them have been unsuccessful, as Pyongyang has not responded to inter-Korean communications.

Observers speculate that the recent inauguration of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung may lead to potential consultations between the two Koreas regarding the repatriation of these individuals. President Lee has indicated a willingness to resume dialogue with Pyongyang, potentially paving the way for future negotiations.